Lightning ready for WNBL final challenge

Lightning will look to strike for a third time when the Adelaide side play favourites Canberra in the best-of-three WNBL grand final series starting on Saturday.

The Capitals are seeking their eighth championship, with the minor premiers entering the opening game at AIS Arena on an 11-match unbeaten streak.

But Adelaide, the last team to beat the Capitals and with two victories from three outings against the Canberrans this season, have ridden a wave of momentum into the final by winning 12 of their last 14 games to earn a shot at a sixth title.

Their performance in eliminating the Melbourne Boomers from the play-offs in two games showed they are up for the challenge.

"Is it the best we've played? Possibly, but I think we can do things even better," Adelaide coach Chris Lucas said after defeating Melbourne 100-92 in game two to advance to the decider.

Behind the leadership of Nicole Seekamp and Stephanie Blicavs, and strong play from import bigs Nia Coffey and Kayla Alexander, Lucas expects his squad to control their nerves and make the most of the occasion.

"We're in finals mode ... I want them to be excited and enjoy it because they've earned the right to be there," said Lucas, who added that the uncertainty around the club's future was not a motivating factor in their late-season surge.

"I think they need to enjoy the moment ... but this team is very good at getting ready for games and I'm pretty excited about where they can take us."

The Capitals too have been in ominous form.

They wrapped up their 2-0 semi-final series against the Perth Lynx with a 91-75 road win, their high-powered offence pouring in 14 three-pointers.

Canadian import Kia Nurse averaged 29 points per game in the semi-finals and will lead Canberra's attack, flanked by a fleet of experienced Opals in Marianna Tolo, Leilani Mitchell and Kelsey Griffin.